AFC moves 2026 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers from Jordan to Qatar amid regional unrest

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially moved the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers for Group A from Amman, Jordan, to Qatar, citing mounting security concerns across the Middle East due to the ongoing military escalation between Iran and the Israeli Occupation.

Originally scheduled to take place in the Jordanian capital from June 23 to July 5, the Group A matches will now be held in Qatar from July 7 to 19. The AFC confirmed the new schedule in a statement from its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, noting that final match dates and venues will be announced in due course.

“This decision was made in light of the current situation in the region,” the AFC said, referencing the worsening security landscape following rising tensions and the threat of broader conflict. The Football Association of Singapore, one of the teams affected by the change, added that “logistical concerns” voiced by participating nations also played a role in the relocation.

Group A includes Jordan, Iran, Lebanon, Singapore, and Bhutan. These nations are competing in the preliminary round of qualifiers for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup finals, which will be hosted by Australia in March 2026.

Four teams, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and reigning champions China, have already secured automatic qualification to the finals. The remaining spots will be filled through eight qualification groups taking place across the continent.